At the beginning of the Second World War, the Japanese Navy (or, in the
Japanese language, Nihon Kaigun, or even Teikoku Kaigun, the
Imperial Navy) was arguably the most powerful navy in the world. Its naval
aviation corps, consisting of 10 aircraft carriers and 1500 topnotch
aviators, was the most highly trained and proficient force of its kind.
Its 11 (soon to be 12) battleships were among the most powerful in the
world. And its surface forces, armed with the superb 24" Type 93 (Long
Lance) torpedo, were incomparable night fighters. How and why this
impressive force was eventually crushed by the U.S. Navy is a subject that
has fascinated me practically forever. Maybe I'm just intrigued by the underdog. In any
case, this page is devoted to the proud navy that lost the Pacific
War.

New Book on Battle of Surigao Strait
Published!CombinedFleet.com's Tony Tully's Battle of Surigao
Strait is now available. Please see Battle of Surigao Strait's website for
more about the book and purchase information.

See also Jon Parshall and Tony Tully's Shattered Sword on Battle of
Midway!

The World's Best Battleship: The
Sequel!By popular demand, a new, more complete look at the most powerful
battleships of World War II. However, in this rendition of the 'Best BB Page' I
compare and contrast not three, but seven battleships, and in much
greater detail.

Articles of
InterestArticles of interest by Jonathan Parshall, Combinedfleet.com
contributors and reader contributions.

The Guns n' Armor
Page!Articles concerning ballistics, armor penetration, and battleship
protective schemes, including a downloadable face-hardened armor penetration
calculator! All of this material was contributed by Mr. Nathan Okun. Most of it
is previously unpublished.